Helming art: Art maven Elnaz Rajabian speaks on the many sides of creativity

Art manager, curator, gallery director and exhibitions producer Elnaz Rajabian (b. 1991, Isfahan, Iran), was a student of law; however, due to her great interest in art and curation, she began her career as a manager of art.

- Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

She looked after the art programming in Bazart, the local art market, where handicrafts made in Isfahan were displayed. Later, she opened visual art gallery Aknoon, displaying the artworks of young and emerging artists. She went on to manage Safavi House, a museum of architecture and creativity where international exhibitions with artists from different countries such as Poland, France, Austria and Mexico, were held in cooperation with the embassies of those countries in Iran.

In a decade of work in the art field, Elnaz has managed more than 300 exhibitions with Iranian and international artists and has introduced the art of young and creative artists by holding art festivals. At DIFC Art Nights 2024 in Dubai, she took part with artworks from Aknoon art gallery. She has also published a book titled Recognition Letter, an introduction to artists and curators of Iranian visual arts from different generations. Elnaz Rajabian speaks to Gulf Today

Why did you pursue a career in curation?

For me, curating grew out of a deep passion for storytelling, art history, and the desire to foster meaningful dialogue between artworks and audiences. Curation is not merely about arranging works of art — it is about constructing a space where narratives are juxtaposed through diverse artworks, across media, scale, and technique, yet united by a strong conceptual thread. It can lead audiences on immersive journeys that echo the inner world of the artist.

Are you an artist yourself?